BEGONIA. 



39 



all to heat. At that time the plants should be fully six 

 inches in height, and proportionately strong. Such 

 plants will make a grand display the entire season, rather 

 delighting in great heat. This was plainly shown the 

 past season on Mr. Griffin's grounds on Long Island, 

 where the strong plants, which were first set, grew vig- 

 orously, while the younger stock from seed sown too 

 late, failed to grow in a satisfactory manner. Those 

 intending to grow Tuberous Begonias from seed, should 

 sow early in January. The amateur can start the 

 tubers in the ordinary window, and grow them on until 

 time to plant out, but to grow from seed will require 

 the use of a greenhouse. 



Propagation is effected rapidly and easily from seed, 

 which is produced freely ; a single capsule is said to con- 

 tain more than one thousand seeds, which, with proper 

 care, will produce nearly as many plants. The seeds of 

 the Tuberous Begonia are so excessively fine as to resem- 

 ble tobacco dust more than covers containing the germ 

 of a future plant. And it is well to remark, in this 

 place, that the seed produced in our greenhouses or in 

 the open ground, is much better, both as regards size 

 ahd plumpness, than any we have been able to get from 

 England, the supposed paradise of the Tuberous Begonia, 

 and the germinating properties are much greater. 



The seed should be sown in the greenhouse in Jan- 

 uary, in pans filled with very light soil. A mixture of 

 powdered sphagnum, sand, and the finest manure possi- 

 ble, thoroughly mixed, is the most suitable. This 

 should be pressed firmly down, and the seed scattered 

 thinly over the surface. Then wet thoroughly with 

 a fine rose, and cover to the depth of one-eighth of an 

 inch with the same mixture of soil, or with ground 

 sphagnum alone ; cover each pan with a pane of glass, 

 to prevent evaporation, and give them an even tempera- 

 ture of about 70°. This degree of heat is quite suffi- 



